Romaine Washington

Poet

Rancho Cucamonga, CA
California US
Email: 
poetromaine@gmail.com
Website: 
www.romainewashington.com

Author's Bio

Romaine Washington (she/her) is the editor of  88 Unashamed Black Mental Health Stories, These Black Bodies Are… A Blacklandia Anthology, and Cholla Needles Issues 105, 102, and 88; she is also the author of two poetry books, Purgatory Has an Address (Bamboo Dart Press) and Sirens in Her Belly (Jamii Publishing). Washington’s poetry has been nominated for Best of the Net, and she is a twice-publisher-nominated Pushcart Prize poet. Her work has been published in local and national publications, including the Women Who Submit anthologies, Gathering and Accolades, Lullwater Review, and Boundless 2022 (Flowersong Press). She has presented her poetry on many programs, including Inside SoCal on CBS2/KCSL9, NPR, and KPFK. To find out more, visit her website at www.romainewashington.com.

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
Cholla Needles 86 (Cholla Needles Press, 2024)
,
Cholla Needles 88 (Cholla Needles Press, 2024)
,
These Black Bodies Are...A Blacklandia Anthology (Inlandia Institute, 2023)
,
Boundless 2022: The Rio Grande Valley Intl. Poetry Festival Anthology (FlowerSong Press, 2022)
,
Cholla Needles 59 (Cholla Needles Press, 2021)
,
Gathering: A Women Who Submit Anthology (Jamii Publishing, 2021)
,
Cholla Needles 39 (Cholla Needles Press, 2020)
,
Pandemic Summer: (Inlandia Institute, 2020)
,
San Bernardino Singing (Inlandia Institute, 2020)
,
Accolades: A Women Who Submit Anthology (Jamii Publishing, 2019)
,
Cholla Needles 32 (Cholla Needles Press, 2019)
,
Cholla Needles 36 (Cholla Needles Press, 2019)
,
Writing from Inldandia 2018 (Inlandia Institute, 2019)
,
Writing from Inlandia (Inlandia Institute, 2017)
,
Defining Moments Vol IX (Plymouth Writers Group, 2004)
,
In the Company of Women (PoetWorks Press, 2001)
,
The Verdict Is In (Manic D Press, 1992)
,
Sheila-Na-Gig (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 1991)
Books:
Purgatory Has an Address (Bamboo Dart Press, 2021)
,
Sirens in Her Belly (Jamii Publishing, 2015)
Journals:
Altadena Poetry Review
,
Buckle &
,
California English
,
Cholla Needles
,
Hip Mama
,
Lullwater Review
,
New Directions
,
The Coachella Review

Watch

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Toni Morrison, Jesmyn Ward, Audre Lorde, Jericho Brown, Justin C. Key, Natasha Trethewey, S. Pearl Sharp, Cynthia Manick, Clint Smith, Ta-Nehesi Coates, Edwidge Danticat, Jamaica Kincaid, Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, Barbara Kingsolver, Naomi Shihab Nye, Nikki Giovanni, Nikia Chaney, Nathalie Graham, Beverly Head, Tracy K. Smith, Lynne Thompson, Patricia Smith, F. Douglas Brown, James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Carolyn M. Rodgers, Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, Aime Cesare, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka, Tennessee Williams, Milan Kundera, Ada Limón

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
African American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
San Bernardino, CA
California
Raised in: 
San Bernardino, CA
California
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 11, 2026